Colossians and Philemon

I hope as you read the Epistles, you will remember that these were actually letters written by a person or persons to another person or group of persons. Nowhere is that better illustrated than in the book of Colossians. Paul and Timothy are writing to the brothers and sisters in Colosse.

They speak of Epaphras, their "beloved co-worker," through whom the folks in Colosse heard the Good News. What Paul knows about the Colossians is based on what Epaphras told him -- about their love for others, love that came as a gift from the Holy Spirit.

Paul paints one of the best pictures of Christ that you will ever read:

· The visible image of the invisible God

· Existed before anything was created

· Is supreme over all creation

· Through Christ God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth

· Made things we can see and things we cannot

· Holds all creation together

· The head of the church, which is his body

· The beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead

· First in everything

· God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ

· Made peace with everything in heaven and earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross

· Reconciled us to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body

· So we are holy and blameless as we stand before him without a single fault

Paul urges the Colossians to continue to follow Christ, to "let your roots grow down into him and let your lives be built on him. Today, I watched a National Geographic special on Redwoods. Apparently there are blueberry bushes that grow way up high in the trees in soil that is on the branches. They would certainly have to be rooted in that soil to thrive and so must we.

We see what baptism is all about in Colossians 2:12 -- "For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the might power of God, who raised Christ from the dead."

And listen to this: "He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross." Hallelujah!

At the end of the letter, we are reminded once more that this was a real letter to real people. Paul mentions Tychicus giving them a full report. He also mentions Onesimus, "a faithful and beloved brother," -- we'll see more about him in Philemon. Aristarchus is mentioned, as is Mark, Barnabas's cousin. We see references to Jesus (called Justus), Epaphras again, Luke (the beloved doctor), Demas, Nympha, and Archippus.

As for Onesimus, what did you learn about him in Philemon? Paul wrote the letter not only to Philemon, but also to Apphia and Archippus and the church that meets in Philemon's house. Apparently, Onesimus was a slave to Philemon, but he ran away. While away, he became a Christian and Paul is beseeching Philemon to forgive him and to welcome him as a beloved brother. "Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord." He urges Philemon to welcome Onesimus as he would welcome Paul.

Tomorrow, we'll read Ephesians.

Until next time…